Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-12-15

the mysteries of the modiste's profession. A
visit made by her to the house where Mrs.
Belden had lived, and where she had boarded
with her, one evening, after working hours,
revealed the fact that the lady had moved
away, and the house was tenantless. She
= found her new life by no means an agreeable
one, for she was obliged to work early and
late, and to bear silently oftimes the jeers aud
cutting remarks of her more dlsagreeable
work-room companions-girls who were far
beneath her in point of intellect. culture and
morals; and In addition to this her patroness
was Outlines unreasonable and irritable, yet
she bore all without murmur and strove to
satisfactorily perform her duties. It was
something like two weeks after she had en-
tered Mrs. buttons employ that she was sent
to prominent dry-goods store to match
piece Of goods She had fulfilled her mission,
and was Fastening back, when the parcel she
was carrying slipped from her hand and fell
to the pavement poorly dressed young
man, who was passing at the time, picked 1t
up and politely returned 1t to her. AS his
eyes met hers, he started, and exclaimed:
"Pardon me; am not mistaken In address
ing you as Miss Thorndyke, am Il''
The mention of her name-the name she
was striving to conceal-by this stranger
seemed to freeze the marrow Of her bones
with fear. His face was totally unfamiliar to
her, yet he knew her name. Who could he
BET Before she fully realized what she was
saying, she had replied to his inquiry in the
Affirmative.
II was sure l was not mist TAKEN" be re-
piled. you do not remember me, of course,
though used to see you often at Niagara
Falls more than year ago. But you have
changed very much since then"
"Changed indeedl" she said, half aloud.
Then she raised her eyes toward the face of
the stranger again Surely, there was
nothing evil in It's expression.
"You are unhappy-miserablep ~ he said.
Am wrong when l accuse Frederick Nor
ton OF being the cause Of your unhappnessi"
"You know himg" she cried, eagerly.
"Know himl Would to Heaven | could an
swer No. +" he replied.
II do not remember ever seeing you be-
FORE" she said; 'yet you speak as IL you
knew something about my past life."
II am acquainted with one of its saddest
events" he answered "Yet IL is by no
means strange that you should not recollect
me, for was merely hireling-a man Of all
work about the hotel where you stopped at
the Falls yet sympathized with you deeply
Ia your afiliction for knew the man whose
charge you would become"
you refer to Frederick Norton, You
know something about his inner life, do you
not" asked Ella, eagerly.
81 know him to be villain disguised as an
honest man. l know him to be capable of
any act of perlidy through which he could
a .ha al. al oh lid ba
man. 30, Miss Thorndykei l was a man
once who could hold himself erect, and
feared no one. 1t was he who made me the
degraded wretch who stands before you'll"
you, too have suffered through hint
Oh, sir, tell me howe" implored Ella, laying
her hand mpatiently upon his arm.
~ WILL" he replied, although IN doing so
I recall the bitterest incidents of my life.
Let us walk along while relate my story"
They turned into a quiet sidewalk along
which they proceeded slowly.
"Mv name Is Robert Stanford" he began.
81 was only twenty-five years of age when
first became acquainted with him, and my In
experience and impulsive nature led me to be
an easy dupe. | looked upon him from the
first as the soul of honor and my ideal of true
manliness. We were both employed by the
same firm, and out Of business hours were al
most constant companions. Together we at
tended places of amusement, and sometimes
visited rather questionable resorts. Through
him / made the acquaintance Of actresses
and men about town. One night he asked
me to loan him one hundred dollars; he knew
that l had only the day previous received a
remittance from my widowed mother. / COM
piled with his request, and the next day he
handed me check drawn to his order by our
employers for double the SUN of his indebt-
edness, requesting me, as was going to tho
bank to get 1t cashed, to re, ain what was due
me, and return the balance to him. ! called
his attention to the fact that the endorsement
on the back was not In his usual handwriting
and added that should never recognize it
as his. He replied that he had injured his
right hand and was obliged to write with his
left Then for the first time | noticed that
his right hand was bandaged. / presented
the check at the bank, where l was known.
1t was cashed. The next day / was arrested
for the forgery of our firm signature. l de-
clared my innocence, and stated the truth,
calling attention to the fact that the check
was drawn In favor of Norton, whose indorse-
ment 1t bore, but they failed to recognize the
signature as his. leXplained That III had been
written with his left hand, in consequence OF
his having injured the other. He was sent
for. He coolly denied all knowledge of the
matter-avowed that his right hand was per-
fectly sound, and extended il to prove his
statement. The bandage was gone. My ex-
PLANTATION was looked upon as mere subter-
fuge. ] was tried, convicted of forgery, and
sentenced to prison. Yes, Miss Thorndyke,
have slept upon pallet within grated cell,
eaten the prison fare, and worked beside the
common felon. / have passed years within
prison walls for his crime"
'Poor fellowl" and the tears started 70
. Elias eyes. "You have indeed suffered; but
is there no way we can bring about the pun
ishment of this wretchP'
"None," he replied, gloomily ~ am pow
erlcss; dare not face him. l escaped from
prison-a word from him would send me back
again. walk the streets in fear lest should
, meet him; but shall soon be relieved of that
, anxiety, for tomorrow he sails for Europe"
"For Europel' echoed Ella
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